Wire-stretcher.



no; 696,88l. Patented Apr. I; I902.

J. A. WALLS & n. L. BUYTER WIRE 'STRETGHEB.

(Application filed July 5. 1901.)

.7 agxa 2 (.No Model.)

UNTE

Stats -Pa tner anion.

JOSEPH A. YVALLS AND ROBERT L. BOYTER, OE NERI, TEXAS.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters ?fi.tent NO. 696,881, dated April1, 1902.

Application filed July 5, 1901. Serial No. 67,214- (No model.

To it whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH A. \VALLS and ROBERT L. Borrnn, citizens ofthe United States, residing atNeri, in the county of Hood, State ofTexas, haveinvented certain new and useful ImprovementsinW'ire'Stretchers 5 and we dohereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to wirestretchers; and it has for its object toprovide a device of this nature particularly adapted for stretchingfence-wires and which while being simple and cheap of construction willbe most efficient in operation.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the stretcher in position upon afence-post. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the shaft and showingthe end of the drum and the operating-lever in elevation. Fig- 3 is atransverse section throughthe drum looking to the right. Fig. 1 is atransverse section through the drum and looking to the left.

Referring now to the drawings, the present stretcher comprises atriangular frame 5, one

side of which is provided with spikes 6 for engagement with the face ofa post against which the frame is disposed in the operation of thestretcher. The side of the frame having the spikes is shown at 7 and isprovided with an extension 8, in which is received a shaft 9, which isalso engaged with an extension 10 at the opposite angle of the frame.Upon this shaft and at the outer side of the side 7 of the frame isawinding-drum 11, the flange 12 of which adjacent to the frame isprovided with ratchet-teeth 13 for engagement by a pawl 14, which ispivoted upon the lever 15. This lever 15 has an eye at its end whichreceives the shaft and is disposed within the frame, the lever beinglaterally offset at a point above the shaft for the pawl to engage theratchet-teeth. In the upper portion of the lever is a recess 16, inwhich is seated a rocker 17, pivotally mounted, one end of which isconnected with the pawl by means of a rod 18 for raising the pawl fromthe ratchet, the pawl being held normally and yieldably engaged by meansof the spring 19 behind the rocker. Thus by rocking the lever its pawlwill be engaged with the ratchetteeth to rotate the drum, and to holdthe drum against return movement when the lever is rocked in an oppositedirection a retainingpawl 20 is employed. This pawl 20 is pivoted uponthe outer face of the side 7 of the frame in operative relation to theratchet-teeth, and to hold the pawl yieldably engaged with the teeth itis provided with a foot 21, which lies above the side 7 and extendsrearwardly from the pawl, and between this foot and the upper edge ofthe side 7 is disposed a helical spring 22, which by pressing the footupwardly holds the pawl yieldably engaged with the ratchet-teeth.

To attach wires to the winding-d rum i n such manner that they may bewound thereon to place the wires under tension when the drum is rotated,wire clips or clutches are provided. Each of these clutches consists ofan eccentrically-pivoted block having an arcuate corrugated grippingface, which operates against the gripping-face 26 at the base of aradiating lug 27, formed on the drum, there being two of these clutchesshown in the present instance. Atthe inner ends of the gripping-faces ofthe drum are cut-away portions or rabbets 29, in which work the flanges30 at the outer edges of the blocks, these flanges preventing lateraldisplacement of the wires from between the gripping-surfaces. Thus ifwires be engaged with the clutches and the lever be then operated thewindingdrum will be turned upon the shaft to wind up the wires, and whenthe drum is to be reversely rotated the foot of the retaining-pawl isdepressed and the drum is released.

To hold the stretcher in position against the post, a chain 31 isprovided, and one end of this chain is engaged over the shaft 9, thechain being then taken around the post, and after being drawn tight alink thereof is engaged over a stud 30'. Engaged with the chain 31 is agrapple-hook 32, which is engaged with the post, as shown in Fig. 1. Tothe chain 31 is connected a chain-section 33, having a wire-clip 34: atits free end. This wire-clip is engaged with the wire beyond the postafter the wire has been stretched, so that it will be held tight whilebeing disengaged from the drum for adjustment to the post.

What is claimed is 1. A wire-stretcher comprising a frame, a shaftmountedin the frame and provided with a winding-drum and means forrotating it, said frame having a stud, and a chain having connectionwith the frame having a hook for engagement with a post and adapted tobe passed around the post and to engage its links interchangeably withthe stud, and a chainsection attached to the first chain and having aclip for engagement with a wire to be stretched.

2. A wire stretcher comprising a frame adapted to rest against a postand having teeth for engagement therewith, a shaft mounted in the frameand projecting therebeyond, a winding-drum upon the shaft beyond theframe and having clutches for engagement with a wire, a ratchet upon thedrum, a leverpivoted upon the shaft and having a pawl for engagementwith the ratchet to rotate the drum, a retaining-pawl pivoted to theframe for engagement with the'ratchet and having a rearwardly directedfoot, a spring disposed between the foot and frame to hold the pawlyieldably engaged with the ratchet, means for holding the frame againsta post, a stud, and a chain having connection with the frame and havinga hook for engagement with a post, said chain being adapted to be passedaround the post and to engage its links interchangeably with the stud,and a chain-section attached to the first chain and havinga clip forengagement with a wire to be stretched.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH A. WALLS. ROBERT L. BOYTER.

\Vitnesses:

S. H. SMITH, ED. Moons.

